23
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Dvaita vs Advaita vs Vishistadvaita vs Shuddhadvaita vs any other
Q. I hear these terms Dvaita, Advaita, Vishistdvaita, Shuddhadvaita, and may be any other XYZdvaita, etc in most of the questions but I am not very sure what do they refer to.
There are six Darshan (...
- 24.1k
19
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What is the validity of Authoritativeness of vedas?
Purva Mimamsa School in it's Purva Mimamsa Sutras gives very logical arguments to prove Eternity of Vedas. Actually these Arguments can also be used against Nastika school who hold Vedas are not ...
- 44.6k
18
votes
Are we really God?
The answer is obvious, it is because we are not exactly the God, we are jiva, an energy of God. And because we are an energy of God, we are called as God by some. Just like fire and a spark of fire ...
- 26.1k
18
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I want scripture-based explanation for "God is Everywhere"
Vedas state "Sarvakhalvidam Brahman" which means "Everything is Brahman." So, everything is Brahman in the absolute level. Chandogya Upanishad states:
सर्वं खल्विदं ब्रह्म तज्जलानि...
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16
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What is Shakti Visishtadvaita philosophy?
Shakti Vishishtadvaita is the philosophy of a Shaivite sect known as Lingayatism, AKA Virashaivism, founded by the 12th century philosopher Basava. Note that the term "Shaivite" actually ...
- 94.2k
16
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What are all doctrines or philosophies discussed in Brahma Sutra?
Here are the main philosophical schools discussed by Vyasa in the Brahma Sutras (which you can read here:
Vedanta: The Brahma Sutras are the defining text of Vedanta school, so in some sense all the ...
- 94.2k
15
votes
Are we really God?
So are we really God?
Who are we?
Who is God?
What is our relation with God?
Different schools of Hinduism say different things about this concept.
Advaita (commonly called Non-Dualism) - Sri Adi ...
- 4,297
15
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Why does God allow us to suffer?
It's true that Brahman is conscious, and that Brahman is the one that gives both rewards and punishments, so in that sense it is the efficient cause of all suffering. But it is not being cruel or ...
- 94.2k
14
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Was Ubhaya Bharati right in asking a question related to Kama Sutra?
It's because it was a separate debate. It's true that Mandana Misra's wife Ubhaya Bharati is said to have been the referree of the debate between Adi Shankaracharya and Mandana Misra. But this ...
- 94.2k
14
votes
K.S. Bhagavan's critique of Adi Shankara
In brief, the situation is:
A rationalist has analyzed a text written in C++ into English because both look similar. He has critisized C++ for "bad grammar". Certain extremists are behind his life ...
- 19.1k
13
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'Playing football takes us nearer to heaven rather than reading Bhagavad Gita' but how and why?
Swami Vivekananda meant that a strong body can help you have the frame of mind needed to understand things like the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita, and thus ultimately attain Jnana. Here's the quote in ...
- 94.2k
13
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Which are the principle texts/scriptures of Advaita Vedanta?
One of the purest Advaitic texts is the Astavakra Samhita. This is the only book that Ramakrishna Paramahamsa kept in his room. Again, it is pure Advaita.
Another is the Pancadasi by Sri Vidyaranya ...
- 22.9k
13
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Who is Ishwar according to Advait Vedanta - Lord Shiva or Vishnu?
Pure Advaita considers forms of God as unreal. Thus it does not matter what name the unreal Ishvara is called.
Shankara considers Isvara or Brahman with attributes as ultimately unreal. He writes in ...
12
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What is the mystery of Hari Sankara Stotra composed by Adi Shankara?
Here, is that Stotra composed by Adi-Shankara. It has 11 verses and gives such double meanings that it can be used to praise Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu at the same time. It goes on praising 10 avatars ...
- 44.6k
12
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How do Dvaitins and Vishistadvaitins interpret this passage of Mahabharata?
You quoted from the Mahabharata this passage of text:
Meanwhile, the righteous-souled Suka, who had entered the
elements, had become their soul and acquired omnipresence,
answered his sire by ...
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12
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How can you roll up space?
The mantra is not talking about rolling the sky, it's just used in analogous comparision:
निष्कलं निष्क्रिय शान्तं निरवद्यं निरञ्जनम् ।
अमृतस्य पर सेतुं दग्धेन्धनमिवानलम् ।। 19
यदा चर्मवदाकाशं ...
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12
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Why did Vedvyasa mention his shishya Jaimini's opinion/saying in Brahma Sutra?
It's because Vyasa and Jaimini were working together. Vyasa and two of his disciples, Jaimini and Kasakritsna, together composed a unified work called the Mimamsa Shastra, designed to analyze the ...
- 94.2k
12
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Why did Adi Sankaracharya compare the color of Ishwara's eyes to that of monkey's nates?
First of all, here is the Chandogya Upanishad verse in question:
tasya yathā kapyāsaṃ puṇḍarīkamevamakṣiṇī
tasyoditi nāma sa eṣa sarvebhyaḥ pāpmabhya udita
udeti ha vai sarvebhyaḥ pāpmabhyo ...
- 94.2k
12
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Why do sanyasa scriptures degrade women?
Sanyas Upanishads were written for male spiritual aspirants and thus talk of women being dangerous to males. Women are allowed to be monks. Just as women are dangerous for men who are spiritual ...
11
votes
Why isn't there one Absolute Reality?
Q. In the annals of Sanaatana Dharma why isn't there One Absolute Reality? Every "seer of truth" saw/interpreted the way they saw it.
Absolute Reality is only one but it is expressed differently ...
- 24.1k
11
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According to ShankarAchArya in Advaita, is the universe "unreal" or "unworthy"?
There is a common popular misconception in People that according to Advaita World doesn't exist at all. It is not true.
When we are deciding reality of things as per Advaita. Then, Advaita itself ...
- 44.6k
11
votes
Accepted
What are Vivartavada and Ajatavada?
1. Vivartavada:
Sanskrit word विवर्त means [1] transformation, more precisely [2] apparent form in Vedanta philosophy. Vivartavada means the doctrine of apparent transformation.
According to Adi ...
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11
votes
Who is Ishwar according to Advait Vedanta - Lord Shiva or Vishnu?
What is Ishwara?
According to Sarva Vedanta Siddhanta Saara Sangraha (You can get Sanskti-Hindi version from Internet Archive).
verses 310-317 Ishvara
॥ १४ ॥ ईश्वरः॥
मायोपहितचैतन्यं साभासं ...
- 24.1k
11
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Can't Shudras read the Bhagavad Gita?
There are no specific restrictions for reading and understanding Bhagavad Gita based on castes, differentiation apart from two cases, where Krishna himself emphasizes on to whom this Gita knowledge ...
- 3,031
10
votes
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What is the significance of the Titles of Spiritual Teachers?
Who gives titles to whom?
The Guru gives the title to His student in most of the cases[a]. Sometimes the saint Himself gives Himself a name. Sometimes the disciples give the name. There is no hard ...
- 4,297
10
votes
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Is Bhagavad Gita text Shruti or Smriti?
According to Prasthanatrayi concept of Vedanta, Bhagavad Gita is considered as Smriti Prashthana.
As presented in forward by T.M.P Mahadevan in English translation of BrahmaSutra Bhasya of Adi ...
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10
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Which are the principle texts/scriptures of Advaita Vedanta?
Apart from the works of Adi Sankara Bhagavatpada mentioned by Swami Vishwananda. I would like to say a few words. If you want to know about its philosophy like bird's view, there are many books ...
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